http://www.srt8oc.com/forums/showthread.php?p=175122
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16641811
http://www.car-forums.com/s7/t2994.html

these should help. and i said take weather into consideration becasue if you live somewhere that does not get alot of rain/snow (i.e. arizona, nevada etc.) then this would not be an issue but if you live up north where snow is present for months at a time or in a place like florida where freak thunder storms pop up out of no where then your going to want something reliable under all applications. And just to clear it up a little i never said they were no good I said they are used for races and various everyday driving applications. And i do understand that they are street compound rather than full race ceramics but all that does is lower the normal operation temp. It still has to warm up to hit its peak but not as much as full ceramics.
In fact i used to run compound ceramics on my 02 mustang and 95 eclipse and boy did they work great but when driving in rain you tend to hit puddles and at those points you can really feel the reduced braking power until given a chance to reheat.

 

[QUOTE=DtTall;1110294]If I understand correctly, it is just relating to weather keeping the pads cooler. If cooler pads impact performance then I guess it could be an issue. From most things I read it sounds like ceramic will be the way I go. Any rec's as to which one or brand? And are the shims important to get with it?

from experience ive found hawk creamics to work great and i never had a problem with squeeking with them. alot of other ceramics tend to have that prob. not sure why

 

you want to get pads that have a compatible sensor in them (the sensor that is giving you a warning light)

 

Audi dealer asked $300 to replace front pads including labor. they use OEM pads. I just called Sears and they asked $140 for pads and labor. They user Wagner Thermo Quiet pads.

What do you guys think? Is it worth saving the money and going to Sears ?

Thanks.

 

well, Wagner is mentioned in one of those links provided by trinituner as being a reliable brand.
I know lots of ppl wouldn't trust their "pretious" Audi in the hands of a Sears mechanic, but I would...
Had a flat tire some yrs back (tacking my wife to the Mall) and I had to fix it there - on a Saturday. $ 12 job and the fix lasted for the rest of that tire's comission (another 3 yrs or so)